INFANTICIDE CHARGED

Evening Star, Issue 17958, 3 May 1922, Page 8

INFANTICIDE CHARGED

FARMER'S WIFE- ACQUITTED. -V young married woman, Edith Grace M‘Kay, was charged :it the Central Criminal Court, Sydney, 'last, month, before •Sir William Cullen, Chief Justice, and a jury, with, the murder of her eight weeks <'ld infant at North Yarning on February 15, 1920. A reused pleaded, not guilty. In outlining the ease, for the prosecution. Mr Coyle said the story was a particularly sad one. Accused and her husband appeared to have been living happily on n. small farm near Fitzroy Fulls, Moss Male. There was a, suggestion that accused was a woman who was subject to fits, but (boro was nothing in her family history to account for any abnormal conduct, On February 15, 1920, her husband, about 10.50 a.m., wont to Moss Vale, leaving his wife at home with the child, vviio war. sleeping in a cot on the veri and ah. iXcarly an hour later somo people v, a,i were driving a sulky along tho main :o;ul saw accused getting through a. fence with the baby wrapped in a shawl, from which blood wp.s dripping. When asked what had happened sho ‘replied that a man in the bush had killed the, baby. Evidence would bo brought, added Mr Coyle. accused’s husband kept his razor on his wnshstand in (ho bedroom, and that when a. police sergeant visited the house ho found tho blood-stained razor on tho cot. Accused had been asked previously if she had seen tho razor, and sho replied in the negative. Evidence was given by Sergeant Marine, of Moss Vale. Ho said accused gave I a description of the man. and made a .statement subsequently. Three men wore taken to tho house. Although sho said none of them was tho man, ono of them “looked 1 liko him.” This man, however, had given a. detailed account of his movemerits. Accused said that every word of her statement to the police, was quite correct. “ I am satisfied tha t I never injured one, hair of tho baby’s, head,” she, proceeded, sobbing, “and I would not. I have not done tho baby any harm. I never killed my baby. God knows how innocent I am. The jury found accused not guilty, and s-he was discharged.